Abu Dhabi AI council reviews progress on UAE-US AI campus and AI-native government plan
In short
Abu Dhabi’s Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council met on 6 October, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the presence of Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed. The council reviewed progress on the UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, AI research, specialised talent and open AI models, and the Abu Dhabi Government’s goal of becoming the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027. Sheikh Tahnoon said the emirate’s ambition goes beyond adopting AI to developing the technology and the economy around it.
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Abu Dhabi’s Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC) met on 6 October, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the council, in the presence of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and vice chairman of the council. The Abu Dhabi Media Office and the state news agency WAM issued readouts of the meeting, and The National also reported on it. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The council reviewed progress across priorities supporting Abu Dhabi’s AI and advanced technology ecosystem, according to the readouts: the UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, the advancement of AI research, specialised talent and open AI models, and the Abu Dhabi Government’s progress towards becoming the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Sheikh Tahnoon said Abu Dhabi’s ambition extends beyond adopting AI to developing its technologies and shaping the economy built around them, according to the official readouts. He emphasised the priority of directing investment, research and international partnerships towards building a lasting scientific and technological base in the emirate, enabling its people and institutions to generate knowledge, establish new industries and develop a model of government with AI at the core of its operations. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The meeting was attended by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of the AIATC, alongside council members Dr Ahmed Mubarak bin Nawi Al Mazrouei, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Humaid Obaid Abushibs, Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab and Peng Xiao. Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince, also attended. [ 1 , 2 ]
The AIATC is Abu Dhabi’s supreme authority for AI and advanced technology, covering projects, investment and research and responsible for setting policies, strategies and priorities across the emirate, according to the documents. The National noted that Sheikh Tahnoon is also National Security Adviser, and reported that in July the UAE and US agreed to create a bilateral task force to speed up the development of AI tools for military purposes — Task Force Talon Synapse, to be based in Abu Dhabi with about 20 US and Emirati personnel specialising in AI, data and cybersecurity. The official readouts do not mention the task force. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The meeting signals that Abu Dhabi’s AI push is being coordinated at the top of the emirate’s leadership, with the council described as the supreme authority for AI and advanced technology projects, investment and research. The UAE-US AI Campus and the 2027 AI-native government target tie the emirate’s plans to both international partnerships and its own administration. The documents give no new funding figures or decisions beyond the review of progress.
Key facts
- The Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC) held a meeting chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and council chairman. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The meeting was held in the presence of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and vice chairman of the council. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The council reviewed progress on the UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, AI research, specialised talent and open AI models. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- It also reviewed the Abu Dhabi Government’s progress towards becoming the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Sheikh Tahnoon said Abu Dhabi’s ambition extends beyond adopting AI to developing its technologies and shaping the economy built around them. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He emphasised directing investment, research and international partnerships towards building a lasting scientific and technological base in the emirate. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The AIATC is described as Abu Dhabi’s supreme authority for AI and advanced technology, responsible for setting policies, strategies and priorities. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The National reported that in July the UAE and US agreed to create a bilateral task force, Task Force Talon Synapse, based in Abu Dhabi with about 20 US and Emirati AI, data and cybersecurity personnel. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan chaired an AIATC meeting in the presence of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The council reviewed the UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, AI research, specialised talent and open AI models, and the goal of a fully AI-native Abu Dhabi Government by 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Sheikh Tahnoon said the emirate aims to develop AI technology and the economy around it, and to direct investment, research and international partnerships towards a lasting scientific and technological base. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The AIATC is Abu Dhabi’s supreme authority for AI and advanced technology. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the council took any new decisions, approved funding or set new deadlines at the meeting. All three documents describe a review of progress and priorities; none reports specific decisions, figures or targets beyond the existing 2027 goal.
- Details of the UAE-US AI Campus in Abu Dhabi, including its stage of development or scale. The campus is listed among items reviewed but no document gives further detail.
- The July UAE-US agreement and Task Force Talon Synapse are reported only by The National, with no confirmation in the official readouts. Single-source background that the official documents do not mention.